You don’t have to be an ornithologist to appreciate the diversity and beauty of birds in Britain.

And to help our bird population to survive and thrive, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is asking members of the public to take an hour next weekend - January 24 and 25 - to count the birds in their gardens or nearby green spaces.

The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch is in its 36th year and the society says the British public have been brilliant in supporting it since 1979.

And one of those people is Patrick Jones, from Drakes Broughton, near Worcester, who has been taking part in the event since it began.

“I have carried out the survey every year since it began and it is surprising how the birds always seem to disappear for that vital hour! On the other hand it is amazing what does turn up, like the one and only time I spotted a jay in my garden. It does show what an important habitat we all have on our doorsteps and the need to give a home to our garden wildlife”, says Patrick.

He added that he has seen plenty of different birds and other animals during these years and is always looking forward to seeing new species: “It’s important not only to be looking after birds. There are other animals in our gardens such as squirrels and foxes that are also included in the survey.

“It’s a very interesting survey and, apart from giving the RSPB vital information, it is a great activity for all ages. Staying quiet for an hour seeing what is going on in your garden can be very rewarding”.

More than half a million people are expected to watch and count their garden birds during this weekend’s 36th Big Garden Birdwatch. The survey provides important information about the changes in numbers of birds using our gardens in winter, and helps alert conservationists to those species in decline.

Last year the top ten birds seen in British gardens during the bird watch weekend were house sparrow, blue tit, starling, blackbird, wood pigeon, chaffinch, goldfinch, great tit, collared dove and robin. Other birds seen were the lapwing, waxwing, grey partridge, barn owl and chiffchaff.

Experts are interested to see how the mixed weather conditions around the UK so far this year affect the number of birds in gardens in different areas.

The RSPB hopes to use the data to build an overall picture of how important our gardens are for all types of wildlife and tailor its advice so people can help their wild visitors find a home, feed and breed successfully.

Despite coming top of the list last year, house sparrow numbers have declined by 62 per cent since Birdwatch began. Starling numbers have plummeted by 84 per cent and song thrust numbers are down by 81 per cent over the same period.

The Big Garden Birdwatch is part of the RSPB’s Giving Nature a Home campaign, aimed at tackling the housing crisis facing the UK’s threatened wildlife. The charity is asking people to provide a place for wildlife in their own gardens and outside spaces – whether it by planting pollen-rich plants to attract bees and butterflies, putting up a nestbox for a house sparrow, or creating a pond that will support a number of different species. To find out how you can give nature a home where you live visit rspb.org.uk/homes.

You can register to take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch and find out more by visiting at rspb.org.uk/birdwatch

People then have to submit their results to the RSPB before February 13 either online at www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch or by post.